Tank-filling device.



E. J. KELLEY.

TANK HLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 1914.

1,1 53, 1 1 6. Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. J. KELLEY.

TANK FILLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 25, 1914.

1,153,116. 1 PatentedSept. 7,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1 3 Wu z-wtoac Eime ffielley ELMER J. KELLEY, or ALGONA, IOWA.

TANK-FILLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

Application filed February 25, 1914. Serial N 0. 821,058.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER J. KELLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Algona, inthe county of Kossuth and State of Iowa,haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Tank-Filling Devices, ofwhich the following is a specification.-

This invention relates to tank filling devices, and is especiallyadapted for use in connection with the gasolene tanks of automobiles andthe like, the object of the invention being to provide a novelconstruction and arrangement of funnel for conducting the gasolene intothe storage tank, the said funnel being adapted to be slid into and outof filling position, and when not used for filling, to be housed andconcealed out of the way, where it is not liable to be injured.

Under the method now employed in automobiles, it is necessary for thepassenger riding in the front seat to descend from the car, before thetank may be filled, and also to remove any robes, baggage, or otherarticles which may be in the way.

By means of the device hereinafter de scribed, it is unnecessary forsuchperson to leave the seat, and furthermore the spilling of gasolene overthe seat cushion and floor and other parts of the car is prevented, thusdoing away withall of the obiectionable features, due to the presentmethod of filling gasolene tanks.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the-accompanying drawings, and pointed out, inthe claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the frontseat and seat support of an automobile, showing the tank equipped withthe improved'filling device. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view takenat right angles to Fig. 1, and illustrating the construction andoperation of the filling device. 3 is an end view of the tank andfilling device..' Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line44 of Fig. 2.Fig. 5 is a plan View of the funnel holding inner clip. Fig. 6 is a planview of the outer clip for holding the funnel in its operative position.

Fig. 7 is a plan view, showing the shape of the mouth of the funnel.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 designates the front double seat of anautomobile, 2 the seat frame, and 3 the gasolenestorage tank, which, asis well-known, is mounted beneath the front seat, the latter forming aninclosing casing for the tank as shown in Fig. 1, said tank beingillustrated panel 5 of the automobile body, as shown in Fig. 1, it beingintended to provide the body with a removable section 6 for givingaccess to the filling device, in Order to draw the same outwardly foruse, and push the same .inward, when no longer required. In this way,the filling device is ordinarily entirely concealedfrom view.

The funnel 4 is provided with a downwardly extending neck 7 connected byan elbow or bend 8 with the inner tubular member 9, of a telescopicpipe, the outer section of which is designated at 10. These twotelescopic sections may be of any desired diameter andadapted to slideone within the other, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, the outer member beingprovided at its outer end with a flange 11 which is threaded, as shownat 12, to receive a union or gland 13 secured fixedly to the innertubular section 9, there by leaving a packing space 14, and adapting thedevice, as. a whole, to act as a stufiing box, and provide a liquidtight joint between the two telescopic sections of the pipe, as will beclearly understood. I

The outer section 10 is closed at its inner end by an end wall 15, whilethe correspond ing end of the inner section is left open, as

shown at 16,

At an intermediate point, the outer section 10 is provided with alateral outlet 17 in its lower side, which outlet is opened and closedor covered and uncovered by a relative sliding movement between theinner and outer sections of the telescopic pipe.

In the preferred'embodiment of the invention, the tank 3 is provided inits upper side with a semi-cylindrical depression 18 forming a gutter,in which the outer mem-- ber 10 is adapted to seat, said member beingsecurely held and fixed in place by means of a sheet metal cap 19 whichis substantially semi-cylindrical in cross section and extends over thesection 10, and is flanged at opposite sides, as shown at 20, and sol-60 as equipped with the improved filling device.

' comprising a base 21 secured to the end of the tank 3 at a suitableelevation, as indicated in Fig. 3, and opposite outwardly bowed springarms 22 adapted to receive and clasp the neck of the funnel, when turneddown and pushed inward.

When the funnel is drawn outwardly and turned upwardly to receivegasolene, it is held securely locked in said position by bowed springarms 26 of the clip to embrace and, firmly clasp the neck of .thefunnel.

means of another clip, embodying a sl1dable base 23 having alongitudinal slot, through which, pass one or more screws or otherfasteners 25, by means of which the plate 23 is secured to the seatframe at such an elevation as to adapt the oppositely This prevents thefunnel from turning in the event of the spout of the gasolene can beingallowed to rest too heavily upon the funnel, during the pouring of thegasolene into the filling device.

It will, of course, be understood that the,

telescopic pipe connected with the funnel and the sections of said pipemay be of any strength to support a considerable load, when placed'uponthe funnel 4, without liability of bending the telescopic sections ofdesired length and diameter, and it is preferred to make the same ofsuflicient the pipe. The outlet 17 is so located with respect to theextent of movement of the funnel and .the inner telescopic section 9that said outlet will be uncovered, by reason of the open end of theinner section 9 passing beyond said outlet, when said inner section isdrawn outwardly to place the funnel in its filling position. When thefunnel is turned downwardly and pushed back to its collapsed position,the inner section 9 will close and cover the outlet 17, therebypreventing evaporation of the gasolene.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a liquid holding tank, a casing inclosing thesame, of a filling device for said tank, comprising telescopichorizontal tubes, one of which is stationary and the other slidable inthe stationary tube and one of which has a lateral outlet communicatingwith the top of said tank, and a receiving funnel connected to the othertube and set at an angle thereto, and adapted by the movement of theslidable tube to be positioned Within or outside of said casing.

2. The combination with a liquid tank, and an inclosing casing therefor,of a filling device for said tank, comprising a funnel, a pipe extendingat an angle to the base of the funnel and embodying telescopic tubularmembers having a relative sliding movement and a relative rotativemovement whereby the funnel is adapted to be shifted within or outsideof said casing,'and a clip for holding the funnel in filling positionwhen the pipe is extended.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELMER J. KELLEY.

